Some Guild Artist Award through the years info

**58flame** · 02-01-2026, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Guild was unable to generate much demand for the last Artist Awards even with going back to the 24.75 scale. I do believe that if Bob Benedetto had included his 25.0 scale length in the AA/JS remake, they would have sold better, been better reviewed and would be worth more today. But Bob wanted to keep it a Guild rather than make it into a Benedetto that looked like a Guild. There were some negative reviews (notably Ron Cleggs) regarding the 25 5/8 scale and I myself felt the extra tension and let my GBAA's go in the end. Clearly Johnny Smith was so disinterested in playing one at the end that he allowed the scale length to stay out of his spec request prior to his last endorsement deal. IIRC, the only change he requested to the GBAA was a full contact neck. Perhaps Phil can tell us if there are any other spec differences?

But I think a bigger problem for the value of the AA's is brand perception and also what the great players used. Both Guild and Epiphone made great archtop guitars. But both brands have been sullied by having the brand put on the headstocks of some mediocre guitars made in the Far East. And while some great jazz guitarists have played Guilds and Epiphones, the majority of the jazz guitar legends played Gibsons. The Gibson brand has been carefully guarded to bring maximum value. If you bought a Gibson L-5C and an Artist Award 15 years ago, you would have done way better on the appreciation side of things with the Gibson. Will that also hold true in the future? Who Knows? I think it will.

I think to say Johnny was disinterested is a pretty big assumption, unless you know something I do not. Johnny said he liked the guitar in a video interview, and was quite happy with it. There are also photos of him playing his.
So the spec on this guitar is different than other Benedettos. That's what gives it the sound. Mine sound like pianos with 13s. My 25" scale JS spec Campellone can't touch either one of them in terms of harmonic complexity. The only guitar that gives them a run is the Gibson JS. For some reason I have a stupid loud one that really sings in the upper register.

**Navigator** · 02-01-2026, 07:11 PM

Love hearing Johnny Smith play his Gibson with Bing. Compare this to Benson s tone on Giblet Gravy....for my tastes I prefer the AA sound, but Johnny Smith does sound ridiculously good here.

**58flame** · 02-01-2026, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by Navigator

Love hearing Johnny Smith play his Gibson with Bing. Compare this to Benson s tone on Giblet Gravy....for my tastes I prefer the AA sound, but Johnny Smith does sound ridiculously good here.

Johnny always sounds ridiculously good.

Check out the 2 live albums -1. Jazz in the Springs, 2. The Last Night at Shaner's.

**213Cobra** · 02-01-2026, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

....Perhaps Phil can tell us if there are any other spec differences?

But I think a bigger problem for the value of the AA's is brand perception and also what the great players used. Both Guild and Epiphone made great archtop guitars. But both brands have been sullied by having the brand put on the headstocks of some mediocre guitars made in the Far East. And while some great jazz guitarists have played Guilds and Epiphones, the majority of the jazz guitar legends played Gibsons. The Gibson brand has been carefully guarded to bring maximum value. If you bought a Gibson L-5C and an Artist Award 15 years ago, you would have done way better on the appreciation side of things with the Gibson. Will that also hold true in the future? Who Knows? I think it will.

I don't know of any other specific specification differences, but there are some other dimensional deltas that could be a matter of spec or could be just builder variations. There are three things that stand out looking at my three current AAs -- here again so you don't have to go to my post #31 to see what I describe:

One is the cutaway. You can see that on the Westerly '94 (L), the cutaway bottom is pretty even with the 19th fret. In the G-B AA (C), the cutaway is narrower and deeper, bottoming at the 20th fret. Now, I don't know why Johnny Smith would specify what's next, but on the 2006 G-B JSA (R), the cutaway is a blend of the prior two -- opened up wider again more like the Westerly, but bottoming around the 20th fret, like the GBAA from 1999.

Next, the bottom of the lower bout has a slightly flattened span on the '94 AA. It's very slightly rounder on the '99 GBAA. And it's more rounded still on the '06 GB JSA.

Then, look at the f-holes. I could go to the trouble of measuring, but size and position drift a bit. Compared to the '94, the '99 GBAA has slightly thinner f-holes, some of which is accounted for by having also a bit thicker f-hole binding, but that's not quite all of the difference. Then on the '06 GB JSA, the f-holes even with thicker binding than the '94 are opened up wider, but they aren't as tall, and the f-holes are positioned a little higher into the waist than on the other two. Why? No idea. Hard to believe the '06 f-hole differences from earlier were a Johnny spec. I'm guessing Johnny didn't specify Benedetto's honey-tint for the nitro.

There are minor dimensional differences, and in another thread I posted measurements of the nut widths and neck dimensions, all of which register with me but feel minor and inconsequential nevertheless. If I spot anything else, I'll circle back.

I agree, Guild Artist or Johnny Smith Awards are not going to appreciate to Gibsonesque levels nor as reliably retain appreciation levels reached. Guild never built the awareness, brand reputation and artists stable that Gibson did, so the general players' & collectors' markets view -- and will continue to -- Guild as standing in Gibson's shadow and value accordingly. A Guild archtop is for all practical purposes somewhat less liquid than an equivalent Gibson, even though the price will certainly be more accessible, i.e. lower. There are just so many, many more album covers with Gibbys in sight, than Guilds. BTW, it's the same with Guild's flattops vs. Martin's. I have both and I'd generally rather have Guild. But vintage or more recent used values for same-age, commensurate USA flattops in both lines cap Guild prices well lower than Martin's. But then again, for people who know what's special about a Guild and prefer that, it's easier to get in the game for a top-flight, impeccably-made, US-built, 17" production archtop guitar.

Phil

**Stringswinger** · 02-01-2026, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by 213Cobra

I don't know of any other specific specification differences, but there are some other dimensional deltas that could be a matter of spec or could be just builder variations. There are two things that stand out looking at my three current AAs -- here again so you don't have to go to my post #31 to see what I describe:

One is the cutaway. You can see that on the Westerly '94 (L), the cutaway bottom is pretty even with the 19th fret. In the G-B AA (C), the cutaway is narrower and deeper, bottoming at the 20th fret. Now, I don't know why Johnny Smith would specify what's next, but on the 2006 G-B JSA (R), the cutaway is a blend of the prior two -- opened up wider again more like the Westerly, but bottoming around the 20th fret, like the GBAA from 1999.

Next, the bottom of the lower bout has a slightly flattened span on the '94 AA. It's very slightly rounder on the '99 GBAA. And it's more rounded still on the '06 GB JSA.

Then, look at the f-holes. I could go to the trouble of measuring, but size and position drift a bit. Compared to the '94, the '99 GBAA has slightly thinner f-holes, some of which is accounted for by having also a bit thicker f-hole binding, but that's not quite all of the difference. Then on the '06 GB JSA, the f-holes even with thicker binding than the '94 are opened up wider, but they aren't as tall, and the f-holes are positioned a little higher into the waist than on the other two. Why? No idea. Hard to believe the '06 f-hole differences from earlier were a Johnny spec. I'm guessing Johnny didn't specify Benedetto's honey-tint for the nitro.

There are minor dimensional differences, and in another thread I posted measurements of the nut widths and neck dimensions, all of which register with me but feel minor and inconsequential nevertheless. If I spot anything else, I'll circle back.

I agree, Guild Artist or Johnny Smith Awards are not going to appreciate to Gibsonesque levels nor as reliably retain appreciation levels reached. Guild never built the awareness, brand reputation and artists stable that Gibson did, so the general players' & collectors' markets view -- and will continue to -- Guild as standing in Gibson's shadow and value accordingly. A Guild archtop is for all practical purposes somewhat less liquid than an equivalent Gibson, even though the price will certainly be more accessible, i.e. lower. There are just so many, many more album covers with Gibbys in sight, than Guilds. BTW, it's the same with Guild's flattops vs. Martin's. I have both and I'd generally rather have Guild. But vintage or more recent used values for same-age, commensurate USA flattops in both lines cap Guild prices well lower than Martin's. But then again, for people who know what's special about a Guild and prefer that, it's easier to get in the game for a top-flight, impeccably-made, US-built, 17" production archtop guitar.

Phil

Thanks for the detailed response. I loved the deep cutaway on my GBAA's. And while I am not a flattop player, I have owned quite a few over the years made by Martin, Taylor and Guild (for whatever reason, I never owned a Gibson flattop or acoustic archtop.... all of my Gibsons have been electric guitars). I think the Guilds hold up well against the Martins and the Taylors (what a strange thing to have one of the world's finest guitar players named Martin Taylor, eh?)

**jmgalich** · 02-01-2026, 10:44 PM

I’ve owned my 1983 AA since 1983 buying it new at the Chicago Guitar Gallery and never looked back.

After first looking at and playing the various Gibson eye candy like L5s, a Byrdland and a Super 400, I tried the AA and was impressed. After trying the other a few more times, I kept being drawn back to the AA.The owner was a violin maker and said that the Guild was a “special one.” He was right. It has great acoustic projection and sounds fantastic amplified. I’ve received many compliments on the tone.

John Galich

**213Cobra** · 02-01-2026, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Thanks for the detailed response. I loved the deep cutaway on my GBAA's. And while I am not a flattop player, I have owned quite a few over the years made by Martin, Taylor and Guild (for whatever reason, I never owned a Gibson flattop or acoustic archtop.... all of my Gibsons have been electric guitars). I think the Guilds hold up well against the Martins and the Taylors (what a strange thing to have one of the world's finest guitar players named Martin Taylor, eh?)

I've been playing flattop guitars longer than any other type -- continuously since 1968. Growing up in Pennsylvania about 60 miles from the Martin Guitars factory, I was socialized to prefer Martins and my early lust was for a D-28. That was until I discovered Guild in the early 1970s. Now, I have had a few Martins and still have one -- a 1983 150th year D-28S. But Guilds prevailed for me in the flattop world. I played many Gibsons and owned two -- a 1992 Ren Ferguson Montana Robert Johnson L-1 (1 of 75 made), and a later, magnificent J-200 Vine. Don't ask why I don't still have it. Those were the only two Gibson flattops I liked enough to buy. Taylors? Nope. I've never played one I even remotely liked. They don't sound like flattops to me. Pencil necks and Ovation sound. Not for me. My oldest Guild is a D44 Maple that I've owned now continuously for 52 years. Due to Guild's robust bracing of the time, it took years to really find its elastic tone but it rang like a bell from the beginning. It really began to sound fantastic about 20 years in. But then, I'm a fingerstyle player and never really beat on it. Trouble-free except when it developed a neck warp when I took it into the drenching humidity of Micronesia, which Guild set right, no charge, at Westerly. Other than that, it's never needed a lick of service, and that one time it did, it was an unusual circumstance.

If only Martin Taylor's middle name was "Guild."

Phil

**MiniMerckx.22** · 02-02-2026, 08:01 PM

$650 in January 1961 is equivalent to $7,068. In 2025

Originally Posted by Navigator

in 1957 named: Award Model was £297 for a sunburst finish.

in 1960,61 it was called the Johnny Smith Model. The body depth was 3-1/8" price was $650 for the sunburst finish.

mid 1960s body shape changed.

in 1968 the depth was 3-1/8,

in 1969/70/71 the body depth was 3-1/8" and the scale length was 25-1/2" and the AA was "Special order Only"

in 1973 the price was $950
in 1976 the price was $1500
in 1977 the price was $1650
in 1978 it came with a Guild-developed custom suspended pickup. It was 3-3/8" deep, scale length was 25-5/8" nut width is 1-5/8"
in 1979 it was $1875
in 1980 it was $1925

in 1983 it came with a "Guild custom suspended pickup with volume control. Body depth: 3-3/8, scale length: 25-1/2" and nut width: 1-5/8". price $2395

in 1986 it came with Grover Imperial Tuners, and only 12 Artist Awards were made a year. Body Depth: 3-1/2", Scale length: 25-5/8", nut width: 1-11/16". The back is hand-carved maple, selected for use in cellos. price was $2515

in 1990 the scale length was 25-5/8", it was 3-3/8" deep and the nut was 1-11/16". The back is handcarved maple, selected for use in cellos. The pickup is described as a special unique D'Armond type floating single coil pickup. (the square looking one without pole pieces). Price was $4000

in 1993 the Guild Artist Award cost $5499 (including case)

in 1996 the Guild Artist Award cost $6299 (including deluxe alligator case)

in 1997 Guild says the PU is a Floating single Coil.

in 1998/1999, Guild states in the 40 year history only 1,600 Artist Awards were made. the scale length was 25-5/8", nut width 1-11/16". The pickup is called "JS Floating PU"

in 2001 (still called the Artist Award) now redesigned by Benedetto was listed for the price of $10,000

in 2002, 03, 04 etc. (called the JS Award) the scale length was 25-9/16", nut width 1-11/16", body depth: 3". US retail: $11,000.

in 2007 no mention of the Artist Award in the Guild Catalogues

in 2013 Guild American Patriarch Artist Award was listed for sale for $9,999.00 (1000 dollars cheaper than the earlier redesigned by Benedetto )

Attachment 129018

**Navigator** · 02-02-2026, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by MiniMerckx.22

$650 in January 1961 is equivalent to $7,068. In 2025

My guess is that if they released a full on Guild Artist Award in 2026 they'd be around $12,000.

The last Artist Award they built in 2013 was priced at $9,999.00.

**Navigator** · 02-03-2026, 11:02 AM

Hi guys, the replacement '90s AA pickguard is ready!

Some Guild Artist Award through the years info-pickguard_aa-jpg

**gitman** · 02-04-2026, 04:45 AM

James Chirillo on his AA :
IMHO he gets a great sound when soloing and obviously he has his amp and guitar perfectly dialed in.

**Stringswinger** · 02-04-2026, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Navigator

My guess is that if they released a full on Guild Artist Award in 2026 they'd be around $12,000.

The last Artist Award they built in 2013 was priced at $9,999.00.

I doubt Guild has anyone in their Oxnard factory who has the requisite skills to build an Artist Award today. While they could hire an experienced archtop builder, they would have to get that 12K for it to work and at this point, I doubt the demand is there. I am betting that we have seen the last new Artist Awards with that American Patriarch series run made in New Hartford 13 years ago.

You cats who have them, should hang on to them!

**Navigator** · 02-04-2026, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by gitman

James Chirillo on his AA :
IMHO he gets a great sound when soloing and obviously he has his amp and guitar perfectly dialed in.

Fantastic playing by all concerned. Chirillo has some cool videos on youtube with his AA and great to see him using his AA for most of his work

**Navigator** · 02-05-2026, 10:52 AM

Two Guild AA's in action!

**2bornot2bop** · 02-05-2026, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Navigator

Hi guys, the replacement '90s AA pickguard is ready!

Some Guild Artist Award through the years info-pickguard_aa-jpg

you made that yourself? That’s an even better pick guard than came stock on the 90’s AA’s.

**Navigator** · 02-05-2026, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

you made that yourself? That’s an even better pick guard than came stock on the 90’s AA’s.

Thanks, I'm not that clever! It was actually made by a guy in Spain, he seems pretty experienced with arch top pickguards: @sancheskipickguards (on instagram)

**Navigator** · 02-05-2026, 03:30 PM

**2bornot2bop** · 02-05-2026, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Navigator

Thanks, I'm not that clever! It was actually made by a guy in Spain, he seems pretty experienced with arch top pickguards: @sancheskipickguards (on instagram)

Thx. Is it possible to reach him without instagram? I don’t have instagram.

**Navigator** · 02-06-2026, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

Thx. Is it possible to reach him without instagram? I don’t have instagram.

I have his ebay page:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?it...eskipickguards

**2bornot2bop** · 02-06-2026, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Navigator

I have his ebay page:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?it...eskipickguards

much obliged! Unfortunately I’m seeking an L5C pick guard. He’s got one displayed on instagram but not on his eBay page. Still, he has mad skills!!!

**58flame** · 02-06-2026, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

much obliged! Unfortunately I’m seeking an L5C pick guard. He’s got one displayed on instagram but not on his eBay page. Still, he has mad skills!!!

Like this one?

TruVintage Gibson L-5C 8 Inch deluxe guitar pickguard celluloid tortoise 5-ply binding | fox-guitars.com

**Navigator** · 02-06-2026, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

much obliged! Unfortunately I’m seeking an L5C pick guard. He’s got one displayed on instagram but not on his eBay page. Still, he has mad skills!!!

He can make anything if you give him the info

**sancheski** · 02-06-2026, 03:19 PM

Hello everyone, I'm Sancheski. I manufacture pickguards, especially for archtop guitars. I'm currently working on a website, but for now you can contact me through this forum, eBay or Instagram. I'll create a thread to advertise my pickguards here, which may be useful for others.
Pickguards for Archtop Guitars

Follow me on--->
Sancheski Pickguards (@sancheskipickguards) • Instagram photos and videos
https://www.ebay.com/itm/226634531859

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

much obliged! Unfortunately I’m seeking an L5C pick guard. He’s got one displayed on instagram but not on his eBay page. Still, he has mad skills!!!

I'm sorry, but it's impossible for me to advertise pickguards for all brands and models on eBay. For models such as the L-5 or Super 400, there are many different pickguards depending on the model and year. Although I haven't advertised the L5C pickguard, I have a generic one for the L4/L5, so you can select your desired options and send message with further details of your pickguard. I'll be happy to make the pickguard you're looking for.

https://www.ebay.es/itm/226634704732

Some Guild Artist Award through the years info-dsc_0203-1200px-jpg

Some Guild Artist Award through the years info-dsc_0203-1200px-jpg

**Dennis D** · 02-06-2026, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Navigator

My guess is that if they released a full on Guild Artist Award in 2026 they'd be around $12,000.

The last Artist Award they built in 2013 was priced at $9,999.00.

Were there ever annual total build / sales figures for AA's ?

Thx

**2bornot2bop** · 02-06-2026, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by sancheski

Hello everyone, I'm Sancheski. I manufacture pickguards, especially for archtop guitars. I'm currently working on a website, but for now you can contact me through this forum, eBay or Instagram. I'll create a thread to advertise my pickguards here, which may be useful for others.
Pickguards for Archtop Guitars

Follow me on--->
Sancheski Pickguards (@sancheskipickguards) • Instagram photos and videos
https://www.ebay.com/itm/226634531859

I'm sorry, but it's impossible for me to advertise pickguards for all brands and models on eBay. For models such as the L-5 or Super 400, there are many different pickguards depending on the model and year. Although I haven't advertised the L5C pickguard, I have a generic one for the L4/L5, so you can select your desired options and send message with further details of your pickguard. I'll be happy to make the pickguard you're looking for.

https://www.ebay.es/itm/226634704732

Some Guild Artist Award through the years info-dsc_0203-1200px-jpg

Thank you Sancheski for accepting my order for the aged L5C pick guard today!